Sunday evening’s presentation of the Washington Commanders was the final nail in the 2o25 season.
The Detroit Lions didn’t just beat the Washington Commanders — they embarrassed them, scoring on every single offensive possession in a 44–22 rout that looked worse than the score suggests. Sportsmanship was truly the only reason the Lions chose not to hang 80 points on Washington. It was revenge for Detroit’s playoff loss last January, but for Washington, it was something much bigger: the moment their 2025 season officially died.
By halftime, Northwest Stadium was a sea of blue and silver. By the fourth quarter, it was mostly empty. It looked far less like Northwest Stadium and much more like FedEx Field.
A Defense Beyond Repair
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 09: Penei Sewell #58 and David Montgomery #5 of the Detroit Lions celebrate after a two point conversion conversion against the Washington Commanders in the second quarter of a game at Northwest Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Detroit’s offense never met resistance. The Lions finished with 546 total yards, averaged eight yards per play, and scored on eight of nine drives. They converted both fourth-down tries, went 4-for-6 in the red zone, and never punted.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs exploded for 172 total yards and three touchdowns, while Jared Goff threw for 320 yards with little more than a light breeze in his face. Washington didn’t record a single sack, marking the fifth straight game allowing 6.5 yards per play or more — a statistical nightmare that is both laughable and unmatched in over two decades.
The result: the Commanders have been outscored by 89 points over their last four games, each of which has been lost by at least 21. That hasn’t happened in 23 years.
Daron Payne’s ejection after throwing a punch — following a touchdown run in which Gibbs literally carried multiple defenders into the end zone — felt like the perfect encapsulation of where this team stands. The frustration has boiled over. And defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.’s unit has no answers left.
A Crumbling Foundation
Eight months ago, this team was a good 60 minutes of football away from a Super Bowl appearance. Today, it looks like the countless Dan Snyder teams of yesteryear.
Injuries and inconsistency have derailed Jayden Daniels’ second season. Dan Quinn, hailed as a culture builder, suddenly faces questions about locker-room buy-in. And Lions fans overtaking Northwest Stadium was more than a bad visual — it was a public verdict on how far Washington has fallen and how much work is ahead this upcoming offseason.
For the second straight week, the home stands emptied before halftime.
QB Marcus Mariota said postgame that the upcoming trip to Madrid could be a reset. Maybe so. But it’s obvious to anyone who has spent more than 5 minutes watching this defense. The proper fix comes in a few months.
This was the fifth time this season Washington has allowed 34 or more points, and the second time in four weeks that they’ve allowed an opponent to score more than 40. Whitt’s defensive scheme hasn’t fit his personnel, and the pass rush that once anchored this team has disappeared.
Offensively, Marcus Mariota did what was asked — 16-of-22, 213 yards, two touchdowns. But when Detroit rushes for 226 yards, averages eight per play, and scores on nearly every drive, even prime Joe Montana couldn’t save you.
At 3–7, heading to Madrid for the league’s final international game of the year, this franchise is out of answers. The defense has collapsed completely. The sideline feels quiet. The coaches look stuck. And fans, once again, are spending November Sundays watching other teams play real football.
This was supposed to be the continuation of something special — the next step after a season that reignited belief in D.C. Instead, it’s turned into a crash landing. Washington looks disorganized, disconnected, and worse, disinterested.
There’s no mystery left about what this team is. It’s broken.
They’ll head into the bye week following a meeting with the Dolphins in Madrid, facing the facts and questions about leadership and accountability, and it wouldn’t be surprising if some of those questions are answered with pink slips. Because at some point, someone has to own this.
Conor Forrest is the Editor-in-Chief and Senior Commanders Insider for SportsJourney.com. As a graduate of George Mason University, Forrest has spent the last eight years sharing his love for sports with listeners and viewers in the DC area and around the world. He hosts the “After Further Review Podcast” and has held numerous on-air and writing roles covering the DC area sports, Division 1 Basketball, and the NFL. His work has been featured on outlets like NBC Sports Washington, Fansided.com, Heavy.com and The Fourth Estate.
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